NFL free agency is set to kick off, and there are a ton of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents, meaning they could sign with a new team without any restrictions. The top-viewed UFA is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Bengals’ Tee Higgins Appears to Hint at Testing Free Agency in Cryptic Post
Higgins has been searching for a new deal, which was not granted to him by the Bengals in 2024. The star receiver nearly held out of the season but chose to sign and play on his $21 million franchise tag.
Considering it’s well-known that Higgins is seeking a long-term deal, things could get dicey with the Bengals. The team needs to give superstar Ja’Marr Chase a new deal first, and that could impact their ability to also keep Higgins.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been active in publicly stating he wants the front office to figure out a way to keep Higgins. Despite his pleas, the star power of Higgins might outweigh what the team can offer him.
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Higgins used his franchise tag to put together 911 yards and 10 touchdowns through a limited 12 games. The receiver has proven that he deserves a long-term extension but that might not be possible for the Bengals.
Should Higgins want to test free agency, here are the top fits for the dynamic pass catcher.
New England Patriots
Higgins needs to go to a team where he can flourish as a true WR1. One of the most receiver-needy teams that have the most cap space is the New England Patriots.
Per overthecap.com, the Patriots have a league-leading $119 million in available cap space. They could be the right team to offer Higgins a contract that would pay him around one of the top receivers in the league.
The Patriots also have a very underwhelming pass-catching corps, with tight end Hunter Henry leading the team in 2024 with 674 yards. No receiver on the team passed the 700-yard mark, and Higgins could fit in as the WR1 the team can build around.
With a young upstart quarterback in Drake Maye, Higgins could become his top weapon easily.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers had a big problem in 2024, which is they needed a true deep threat at the receiver position. Though rookie Ladd McConkey put together 1,149 yards as a dependable route runner with loads of yards after the catch talent, the team still needs a field stretcher.
Higgins could join McConkey and Quentin Johnston to give Justin Herbert a viable downfield threat. The Chargers have plenty of talent in the YAC department, but they need someone like Higgins to make defenses pay attention to more than just the middle-of-the-field throws.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders were close to making the Super Bowl in their first year with a new head coach in Dan Quinn and a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels. They appear to be a “win-now” type of situation, so adding a dynamic receiver like Higgins could truly elevate the offense even more.
Terry McLaurin proved to be the biggest weapon for Daniels, but beyond that, the Commanders struggled to find a solid WR2 option.
Tight end Zack Ertz rifled off 654 yards in the pass-catching department, but the next closest wide receiver came in at just 506 yards.
Higgins and McLaurin would create one of the best duos in the league, and Daniels’ ability to air out the ball would be perfect for Higgins’ ability to make big plays.
More NFL:
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For more on NFL free agency, head to Newsweek Sports.
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